Powers Planning Boards at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

Because of limited powers planning boards must work closely with city departments and seek to have them forward overall planning objectives as part of their own departmental plans. The traffic problem involves, for example, a department of highways, the police department, and very often county, state, and federal departments or bureaus. These bodies may, and often do, have conflicting ideas, and the overall data of the planner may have significant effect on their determinations.

The weakness of subdivision control is that it controls neither the amount nor the location of subdividing. The abuse of this privilege by irresponsible speculators has resulted in literally hundreds of thousands of lots being thrown on the market, remaining unsold, and eventually becoming tax delinquent. Planning boards, in general, derive their authority from the local legislative body within the framework of a state enabling act authorizing municipalities, and sometimes counties, to create such boards. They are appointive ; the members are unpaid, except in New York City. To be at all effective, there must be a paid staff of men trained in the field of professional planning. If the board becomes politically objectionable, funds are withheld and the board becomes inoperative.

To help find small nails and tacks left in floorboards, slip an old nylon stocking over your hand and run it lightly over the boards. To check if the boards are uneven, lay a straight batten across the run of the boards. Pull the curtains or turn out the lights, then shine a flashlight behind the batten. Light will shine through where the boards undulate. Where the boards are badly worn, try lifting them and turning them over instead of buying new ones.